Previously, clients using the CMAzing product were only able to make adjustments to sold properties. Recently, Homes.com noticed that active properties have been an extremely important and increasing criteria for real estate professionals. To keep up with the market’s demands, our recent enhancement to the CMAzing product will allow for more search parameters and in turn more in depth CMAs for your clients.

In the customize tab on the CMAzing page, under “Comps and Adjustments,” you can now make adjustments for various different conditions such as; sqft, beds, baths, lot size and age. Additionally, now you may select from additional adjustment types and save your selections as templates for re-use any time in the future.

Also in the customize tab of CMAzing, under “Pricing,” there are now new adjustment calculations available. You can manually enter an Approximate Market Value in this section if you wish or use the Calculations drop-down to calculate as well. These recent enhancements to the already powerful CMAzing tool will further strengthen your ability to bring your clients the best and most up-to-date information available.

If you aren’t using the CMAzing tool currently, give us a call!
1-888-510-8795 or email us anytime, productinfo@homes.com.

We would be happy to talk to you about CMAzing or any of our other great Homes Connect products and how they can help change your marketing experience!

Join us on April 24th at 1pm Eastern, for “Inbox Zero!” a FREE Secrets of Top Selling agents webinar presented by Jimmy.  You’ll learn how you can achieve business sanity, improve customer service and free up time to generate more business.

The email will not control you anymore - you will control it! As always the webinars are FREE but space is limited so we recommend you register today!

About Jimmy Mackin
Jimmy is a Facebook marketing expert. He is a national speaker on the Agent Reboot tour and a former featured contributor to popular technology blogs Inman Next and Tech Savvy Agent. He is the creator and community manager of several of the most popular Facebook groups in the real estate industry.

Communication is the key with referrals and we have another reason for you to reach out to old and new potential clients this spring. Homes.com and ForRent.com have created a new consumer resource, Spring Into The Dream – Your Ultimate Guide to Cleaning & Organizing Your Home!  Download, customize with your branding on the cover, and share during your next tour or open house or email to your networks.

The sunshine encourages open shades, bright colors, but also requires us to tend to the little areas that have been neglected (i.e. dust bunnies) during the darker, cold months. Help your clients renew their abode with fresh ideas for cleaning and organization.  It supplies the perfect amount of tips and tricks to have your clients’ homes ready for the spring, and possibly to even list with you!  Spring into the Dream with Homes.com and download your editable guide today!

Successful staging can make the difference between a property that moves off the market quickly or one that extends past your listing agreement and gets in another agent’s hands. Homes.com also knows that while staging isn’t the only factor that sells a home, these staging “Do’s and Don’ts” could help or harm the sale of the home.

Spring Staging DO’s and DON’Ts:

1. DO NOT cover up any structural problems or areas that need repair.
DO encourage the seller to take care of these items as soon as possible. If these issues remain “as is” for the sale, be open about it and don’t brush it under a colorful rug (pun intended). This is misleading and in many states this could be seen as fraud and misrepresentation.

2. DO NOT decorate to your own personal style.

DO stick with simple ideas. Look at magazines and use Pinterest as a guide even, because you want each buyer to see that living room or kitchen with their personality.  If they are overwhelmed with the seller’s style, imagining themselves in the home will be a struggle. Stay simple, avoid eclectic furniture, faux finishes and minimize personal photos as well.

3. DO NOT forget about the unseen areas.
DO remember to stage closets, kitchen storage, pantries, even the garage if you can. Buyers want to see these areas to evaluate how they will put them to use and that cannot be done when they are stuffed with clutter. Some of these areas can be difficult to de-clutter especially when you have a family living on site, so discuss the reasons behind this and offer your help. A referred agent is one that goes above and beyond – be the agent that helped your clients stage their closets and other storage areas. 

4. DO NOT give the impression that some of the staging items convey with the property. For instance, you change the porch light to something more savvy or placed bamboo shades in a home that will be sold with bare windows.
DO tell the buyers what items do and do not convey with the home. This will avoid confusion at closing and serve as great conversation pieces as you interact with buyers during the property tour.

5. DO NOT let driveway cracks and oil spots remain.
DO attempt to fix these areas as they make the property look unpolished and could potentially be a safety hazard. An oil mark can really hold your attention regardless of the beauty of the home so be sure not to track dirt or oil through the home as it could also appear in property photos.

Share your successful staging tips and experiences on our Facebook page!  We hope these tips guide your spring staging objectives and support your potential buyers in imagining themselves in your listings this spring!  

• Think of your brokerage as a partnership. Treat your sales associates as customers and good things will happen.
• Reward your staff. Consider your income on the company’s net along with bonuses to the members of the company for their contributions.
• Develop a Strategy. Focus on growth by retaining the best agents, and recruiting talent. Combining these tactics can reduce overhead.
• Empower Your Employees. Trust the people you hire to fulfill your company mission, while building a strong team together. Let them know you value them as part of your team.

Tell us what strategies you employ to keep your staff happy – comment here or post to our Facebook page.